Switch



Oct. l2 1926. 1,603,168

J. E. 'rHlELER SWITCH Filed March 18. 1925 5 sheets-sheet 1 A I lORNEY l Oct. 12 1926.

J. E. A'rl-HEUER SWITCH Fiied March 18, 1925 :s sheets-sheer 2 INVENTOR Oct. 12 1926.

J. E. THIELER k swI'rcH Filed March 18, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ATTORNEY fling the operation rammed oca 12,1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

rumana, or :ancore-YN, NEW Yom;

SWITCH,

Application .nled Hatch 18, 1925. Serial No. 16,580.

This inventionrelates to improvements in switches and which is of the type ,broadly mentioned-in my co-pending application Sr. No. 3424, filed January 19, 1925.

Theprincipal object of the invention resides in a switch for4 use in connection Vwith a signalling systmffor motor vehicles and is operatively connected with the foot actuated brake pedal forfautomatically control'- of the ,stop signal.

Another obj ect'of the invention is the provision of .a make and break device for respectively releasing a movabledrum bearing certain indicia, operating a motor for rotating the drum, for stoppin the drum y when the desired indicia bearing panel is he une 7 7 of F brought into the proper position, and for illuminating the indicia.

With these and other objects in view, the

invention resides in certain novel construction and combination and arrangement of parts, the essential features of which are hereinafter fully described, are particularly pointedA out in the appended claim, and areillustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:- t Figure 1 is a view illustrating vmy, improved switch in applied position upon a portion of a motor vehicle.

Figure 2 isk a' plan view of the switch per se. I

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4vis a longitudinal sectionalv view on the line 4.-4 of Figure 2. Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view ofthe switc arrangedin a signal circuit. Fi re-6 is an elevational view of the hand operated switch-used in connection with my foot actuated switch.-

Figure. 7 is a horizontal sectional view on igure 6. y 1 Figure 8 is an elevational viewv of the indicator.

Figure 9 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a transverse sectional view on the linelO-IO of Figure 8. v fen-ing now more particularly to the Several views of the drawing, it will be apparent that the `indicator' of the present invention will include a signal display unit 10, an operators controlling unit 11, and a foot controlled unit 50. In accordance with the present invention the al display unit 10 1s arranged in a conspicuousy place atthe "su'ch as at a seat while t shaft 17 of one of respectively bear the following rear end of a vehicle for instance, whereas the operators controlling unit 11 will be arranged at av point remote from the unit 10 point near the vehicle operators e unit is disposed beneath the fiooring of the vehicle between the chassis frame. The suggestion just-made has reference to an automobile, but obviously the indicator may be used or arranged on other types of vehicles such as street cars or wherever signals are to be flashed or displa ed.

he signal dis lay unit 10 includes a casing 12 which emlbodies means for attaching thesame, and the said casing has a si ht opening -13 in the front wall thereof. rrangedrwithin the casing 12 is a rotatable drum '14 which comprises spiders 15 which support a. plurality of signal or indicia bear` ing panels 16;'the spiders l5 being arranged respectively at t-he opposite ends of said panels. Each spider 15 has a central'stub shaft 17 which is journalled in suitable bearings carried respectively bythe partition 18 and one end wall 19 of thecasing. .The stub the spiders 15 has attached thereto a gear 20 with which a gear 21 of the shaft'of a motor 22 meshes, so that upon the operation of the motor and by virtue of the intervention of the gears 21 and 20, mo-` tion will be imparted to drum 14. The pan- Y els 16 of the drum 14 are so disposed that -which embodies a certain signal or certain present instance the panels' indicia. In the indicia, namely Stop, Slow, Forward, Pass, Reverse, Left and Right. The `words Left and Right are also accompanied with arrows which mf dicate direction in. accord with the word re-` spectively with which they are associated. Imorder that the desired indicia bearing panel 16 may be brought into registration with the si ht opening 13, andfurther, in order that the particular indicia beariny ganci may be illuminated there is provide evices presently described.

By referring to the drawings and especially to Figure 5 it will be seen that there is employed a seriescircuit having a motor 22, contact segment 23, spring actuated piv otally mounted member 24, contacts 25, 26

and 27, an electroma etic device 28, and battery. 29.

A 'secon series circuit is cm1 ployed which has therepn lamps 30, contacts 31, and battery 29. The device 28 includes a core 32 which has one end thereof pivotally connected as at 33 to a member 34 pivotally mounted as at 35 to a stationary support 36. The member 34 carries an arresting member 37 and the free end of the member 34 has a contact 38 which is capable of bridging the contacts 31. It will now be manifest that by moving the member 24 so as to bring portions thereof respectively into engagement with the contact 25 and the segment 23 that, among other things the motor 22 will rotate and as a consequence the drum 14 will also be rotated. By employing a rotatable make and break device 39, it is possible to complete the circuit from the battery 29 through member 24, through contacts 25, 26 and 27 to the coil of the device 28 which magnetizes core 32 and causes the same to move into the direction of the arrow thus Causing the member 34 to move on its pivot 35 with the result that the member 37 will be moved into engagement with a portion of the related spider 15 and the contact 38 will be moved between the contacts 31 to bridge the same. The free end of the arresting member 37 supports a switch 37 which normally closes the circuit to the motor but which circuit is broken when the member is inserted between legs o the spider at which time the spider operates the switch 37 to break the connection thus shutting o the motor. It will be manifest that by the single manipulation of the member 24 the motor 22 is set in motion to rotate the drum 14 and the device 39, and that such action is followed by the lighting of the lamps 30 and the movement to the member 37 to an obstructing position. By moving the member 24 so as to separate the portions thereof from engagement with the contact 25 and the segment 23, the motor will be stopped and therefore cannot further rotate the drum 14 which is now held against movement aside from its being moved by the motor 22 by the member 37.

inasmuch as there are seven panels 16 emloyed each of which bears distinctive inicia there are provided seven of each of the contacts 25, 26 and 27. There are also provided seven contacts 40 as parts of the circuit closing device 39. Each contact 40 is arranged on the cylinder 41 of the device 39 with respect to the arrangement of the particular panels of the drum 14. The cyl- Inder of the circuit closing device is mounted for rotary movement and is connected through a gear train with the motor 22 as clearly shown in Figure 9. In other words, each contact 40 operates in conjunction with the pair of contacts 26 and 27 so that when a particular and desired panel is in registration with the sight opening 13 its corresponding contact 40 will bridge a particular pair of contacts 26 and 27, and due to the fact that a portion of the member 24 is in engagement with a particular contact 25 it is possible to move the obstructing member 37 to engage a portion of the adjacent spider 15 to maintain the proper registration of the intended panels 16. The contacts 27 are connected of course in parallel with the coil of the device 28, whereas the seven contacts 25 are connected respectively to the seven contacts 26. The contacts 26 and 27 are carried by a support 42 arranged in juxtaposition to the device 39 and both the device 39 and support 42 are arranged within the casing 12; the former being rotatably supported in suitable bearings and the latter being held stationary.

' In order that the arresting vmember 37 can be withdrawn from engagement with a portion of the spider 15, and further, in order that the contact 38 may be moved from between the contacts 31 there is provided a series circuit which has therein battery 29, member 24, cont-act segment 42 and electromagnetic device 43. The core 44 or the device 43 is connected to the member 34. Upon the movement of a portion of the member 24 into engagement with the segment 42 a circuit will be closed through the coil of the device 43 and as a result the core 44 will be moved to its normal position and the member 37 will be in an unobstructing position while the contact'38 will be withdrawn from between the contacts 31. lt follows that the lamps 30 will be out and the drum 14 will be free to rotate.

It is to be understood that the devices 28, and 43, and the contacts 31 are arranged within the casing 12, and the lamps 30 are preferably supported by a bar 45 which receives support from the partition 18. The

lamps are spaced and lie directly behind the Y sight opening 13.

The contacts 25 and segments 23 and 42 are embodied by the controlling unit 11 as is the member 24. The arrangement of these parts is such that by one manipulation of the member 24, one of the contacts 25 and the segment 23 may be simultaneously engaged or disengaged and by another manipulation a portion of the member 24 is brought into engagement with the segment 42 for the purpose specified. The member 24 may also be moved to a neutral position.

The foot actuated switch 50 heretofore referred to only broadly comprises a U-shaped supportmg bracket 51 within which is supported a block 52 of insulating material and which in turn supports pairs of contacts 53, 54 and 55. Suitable wire connectors 56 are electrically connected to one of each of the sets of contacts 53 and 54 while each contact of the set 55 is provided with a connector. A. strip of conducting material 57 lUO connects one contact of the set 53 with a corresponding contact of the'adjacent set 54.

A roller 58 of insulating material is journalled in the bracket 51 adjacent the sets of contacts and supports spaced contact plates 59, 60 and 6l for respectively bridging the stationary setsl of contacts 53, 54 and 55. A relatively small ear 62 is keyed to the same shaft on whic the roller is mounted and is disposed on the outside of the bracket for mesh vwith a large gear 63 rotatably mounted uponthe exterior of the biacket. An arm 64 extends from the gear and has its free end formed -with a slot 65 vfor connection with a pin 66 carried by the rod '.67 leading from the brake pedal 68 t the brake drums of the vehicle.

In Figure of the drawings there is shown a diagrammatic lview of my Vimproved switch in circuit with a si nal device which has been fully set fort and it will be seen that. a` wire 69 leads from the connector 56 of one-of the contacts of the set 53 to the magnet 43 and a wire 69 leads from one of the contacts of the set 54 to one of the contacts 26, While a Wire 70 leads from the other contact of the set 54 to a contact 72 in the path of movement` of tlie member 24. A wire 73 leads from one of the contacts 55 to the motor 22 While a wire 74 leads from the other contact of the set 55 to a contact 75 also arranged in the lzand switch and which is engaged by the member 24. y'hen the contacts 72 and 75 are bridged by the members 24 the signal is set for operation by the foot actuated switch 50.

When the hand switch is set as 'ust men-l tioned and the brake pedal 68 epressed,

the roller will be rotated through the rod' 67, arms 64 and gears 62 and 63. As the roller revolves, the set of contacts 53 are first bridged by the plate 59 which operates the magnet to release the obstruction 37 from between the spokes of the drum. Upon further movement of the roller, the

plate 61 bridges theset of contacts 55 to operate the l motor 22 to rotate the drum, after which the plate 60 moves into engagement With the set of contacts 54 Whlch energizes the magnet 28 for extendingthe obstructing member 37 within the path of` movement of the spider 15 thereby bringing the stop signal into registry 'with the opening in they casing, atwhich time the switch 31 is closed which li hts the lamps and simultaneously brea s the switch 37 which stops the operation of the motor. lVhen pressure is released from the brake pedal, a s ring 76 attached to the large gear 63 an a portion of thebracket returns the roller 58 to normal position. l WVhat is claimed as new is In a vehicle having a foot brake pedal, a .motion signal devicecomprising a drum, means for mounting the drum for rotation about its longitudinal axis, a plurality of translucent motion signal indicia on the surface of the drum, one of the indicia being Stop, electrically driven means for rotating the drum, an electric lamp posi tioned within the drum, electromagnetically actuated means for controlling the lamp and `for simultaneouslyarresting the movement of the drum and itsdriving means in a selected signalling position, means for con` trolling the arresting means including a selective manual switch and a rotating contact device geared to the drum to cause the latter to be rotated to any selected signalling osition, additional means including a lswltc operated by the brake pedal of the vehicle and the drum operating means for causing the drum to be rotated -to the stop position only, and circuit means interconnectin the manual switch, the brake actuated' switch, and the rotating contact device for rendering the brake operated switch inoperative when the manual switch is in any selected signallin position.

In testimony whereof I ave aixed my signature.

JULIUS E. THIELER. 

